I’m at the airport about to return to the US and bought some candy and a water bottle in a shop I didn’t realize was duty-free. I’ve been avoiding duty-free/tax-free shops because I don’t understand how it works. How does duty free shopping work? And when can I open my bag?
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If you’re in the airport, they just don’t charge you tax in the first place. That’s why they check your passport and boarding pass before completing the transaction – to ensure that you’re eligible for a tax-free purchase.
You can open your bag whenever you want. The purpose of it is so that if you have a layover, your purchases are appropriately marked as duty-free when you go through security again (e.g. if you bought a bottle of liquor). If you intend to eat your candy and drink your water on the plane, the special seal doesn’t matter.
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